Islanders Women’s Basketball Inks Three to National Letters of Intent

May 22, 2012

CORPUS CHRISTI – The Texas A&M - Corpus Christi women's basketball team has signed three players to National Letters of Intent, first-year head coach Royce Chadwick announced today. Janae Blount (Washington D.C./Howard D. Woodson HS), Ashanti Plummer (Manhattan, N.Y./Lab Museum United HS) and Morgan Schwartz (Garden City, Texas/Midland CC) have all signed on to join the Islanders program for the 2012-13 season.

"We are very excited to add these recruits to our signing class," Chadwick said. "Adding this talent to our returnees gives us a solid foundation for the future. With the preseason schedule that we inherited, facing such potential foes as Texas, Colorado, TCU, Auburn, San Diego State and Indiana, they will have to mature in a hurry. We are looking forward to the challenge."

Blount joins the Islanders after four seasons at Howard D. Woodson High School under head coach Frank Oliver Jr. The 5-foot-8 guard averaged 10.2 points per game while tallying 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game.

She led the Lady Warriors to a 26-5 record while earning First Team All-D.C. Interscholastic Athletic Association (DCIAA) honors. She was named MVP of the Capital Classic after scoring an event-best 25 points for the Interhigh All-Stars. Blount has garnered four consecutive DCIAA championships in four years while winning two city titles.

"Janae played for Frank Oliver, one of the most successful high school coaches in the nation," Chadwick said. "She has never had a season in which she did not win a championship. Her offensive game is big time and I anticipate her adding a tremendous dimension to our team. She has the potential to become a premier Division I star."

Plummer, a 6-foot-2 forward, comes to the Island University after spending the last three years at Lab Museum United High School. She is the first Gator to play Division I basketball. During her senior season, Plummer averaged 18.1 points per game while pulling down 13.6 rebounds to help her team advance to the Division A Final Four for the first time under head coach Katie Jungers.

Plummer was named All-Manhattan Second Team and competed in the 2012 NYC Mayor's Cup All-Star Game. Since 2010, the incoming freshman has been part of the Long Island Lightning AAU team. In addition, Plummer was part of the 2012 Wheelchair Charities High School Basketball Classic.

"Ashanti has only been playing organized basketball since her sophomore year," Chadwick said. "She is growing by leaps and bounds in her development and she possesses the highest upside of any player in the country. Roxanne White did a great job of recruiting her, in that she was always a believer through Ashanti's ups and downs that she would blossom into one of New York City's finest prospects. She was right."

Schwartz, a 6-foot-2 post from Garden City, will have two years of eligibility remaining after playing two seasons at Midland CC for head coach Ron Jones. In her sophomore campaign with the Lady Chaparrals, Schwartz averaged 3.3 points while tallying 3.7 rebounds and 1.5 steals a game while coming off the bench. As a freshman, she averaged 6.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in 33 games.

"Morgan played in one of the toughest Junior College conferences in the nation and played for one of the best JC coaches," Chadwick said. "She adds a dimension to our team that we were extremely lacking in that we need a seasoned inside-the-paint veteran player. Morgan will bring stability to that position. She will bring leadership and savvy to our post game. We look forward to a stellar career for her."

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